According to Roger, Xcel Energy Inc. ( XEL), Southern Company ( SO) and Dominion Resources, Inc. ( D) "operate businesses that have time and again proved resistant to even the sharpest recessions." Furthermore, these names have "topped both Wall Street's consensus expectations and the companies' own guidance." They have also raised dividends and serve expanding energy markets.

Stericycle, INC. ( SRCL) is the nation's largest provider of medical waste services. Green writes that the company's services are essential for medical offices, whose industry holds steady in good times and bad, and functions within a highly regulated industry. "There's a confusing grid of state, local and federal rules for the disposal of medical waste and no indication that the growing list of restrictive standards will slow down." With the expansion of medical services overseas and in the US (think aging baby boomers) Green sees a lot of growth opportunity for this company.

Soousen is no stranger to dividend value either. His recommendation: CenturyLink, Inc. ( CTL), a telecom company "paying handsome dividends" at a whopping 8.6% yield. "Based in Monroe, La., CenturyLink is a Fortune 500 company and a leading provider of Internet, TV and voice services. It is the third-largest telecom company in the United States." Rest assured, Skousen says, "The dividend is secure, too. CenturyLink will earn about $2.75 a share this year and approximately $3 next year." The company is also experiencing a wealth of inside buying: President and CEO Glen Post recently purchased 10,000 shares, an investment of $337,143. "Since then, Directors Harvey Perry, Fred Nichols and Virginia Boulet have stepped up to buy shares, too."

Do any of these names peak your interest? To help you further research these ideas, use the list and links below as a starting-off point for your own analysis.

Analyze These Ideas (Tools Will Open In A New Window) 1. Access a thorough description of all companies mentioned 2. Compare analyst ratings for all stocks mentioned below 3. Visualize annual returns for all stocks mentioned1. Xcel Energy Inc. ( XEL): Electric Utilities Industry. Market cap of $11.68B. Current price at $24.1. The stock has gained 13.41% over the last year.1. Southern Company ( SO): Electric Utilities Industry. Market cap of $35.07B. Current price at $40.89. The stock has gained 18.73% over the last year.1. Dominion Resources, Inc. ( D): Electric Utilities Industry. Market cap of $28.18B. Current price at $48.94. The stock has gained 19.37% over the last year.2. Stericycle, Inc. ( SRCL): Waste Management Industry. Market cap of $7.16B. Current price at $83.15. The stock has gained 28.76% over the last year.3. Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. ( PAA): Oil & Gas Pipelines Industry. Market cap of $8.82B. Current price at $59.03. The stock has gained 2.34% over the last year.3. NextEra Energy, Inc. ( NEE): Electric Utilities Industry. Market cap of $23.30B. Current price at $55.21. The stock has gained 8.25% over the last year.3. Piedmont Natural Gas Co. Inc. ( PNY): Gas Utilities Industry. Market cap of $2.14B. Current price at $29.7.The stock has gained 12.12% over the last year.4. CenturyLink, Inc. ( CTL): Telecom Services Industry. Market cap of $21.22B. Current price at $34.43. The stock has gained 2.62% over the last year.Interactive Chart: Press Play to see how analyst ratings have changed for the stocks mentioned above. Analyst ratings sourced from Zacks Investment Research.

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